Enfield Over 50s Forum president Monty Meth hails impact of their petition to increase healthcare funding for the borough

The leader of an elderly people's group has hailed its success in securing additional funding for healthcare in the borough.

The Enfield Over 50s Forum collected more than 6,200 signatures in petition campaigning for more health spending in Enfield.

The petition was run in conjunction with an application by Enfield’s Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for extra cash.

As a result, the commissioning group, which provides GP services and pays for hospital services, will receive an extra £27 million in the next two years.

The forum's life president Monty Meth was among those who handed over the petition to NHS England chairman Prof Sir Malcolm Grant before Christmas.

Mr Meth said: “A big thank you to the 6,000 people who backed our petition, and don't let anybody tell you that they don't matter.

“This shows that we will always be watching the NHS closely and that a petition can really make a difference.

“I've no doubt that the Enfield Over 50s Forum's petition - which attracted more than 6,200 signatures - played no small part in the top of the range funding allocation awarded by NHS England to Enfield CCG.”

The Enfield CCG’s budget will see an increase of 8.3 per cent in the next two years, compared to five per cent in neighbouring Haringey and six per cent in Barnet.

Monty added: “Departing Enfield CCG chief financial officer Richard Quinton sent thanks for the 'excellent work' message to the forum and Sir Malcolm Grant said he was very grateful to the citizens of Enfield for sending the petition.

“Although we were not able to speak at the meeting we were asked to submit a written statement supporting the petition four days before the meeting to Paul Baumann, the board's chief financial officer, in which we highlighted the years of health under-funding suffered by Enfield, the population increase, the rising deprivation and inequality in the borough and the increase in ageing.”

Enfield North MP Nick de Bois said: “I am pleased the Government has listened and delivered a large real terms increase in funding for Enfield. This new increased allocation begins to address the years of underfunding by the last Labour government, who failed to recognise the particular healthcare needs of the changing Enfield population.”